Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 40
It is important that the “no concessions” policy, and the limited toolbox of standard diplomatic...
Conclusion
It is important that the “no concessions” policy, and the limited toolbox of standard diplomatic responses, should not preclude creative negotiations and conversations within the confines of UK and international law; or limit the effectiveness of points of leverage the UK Government may be able to realise and apply.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledges the importance of creative negotiations within legal boundaries and states that they consider a range of available tools and levers including creative options through a task force approach.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
40
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
24. The Government is determined to deter and combat the practice of arbitrary detention for the purpose of diplomatic leverage. Such detentions generally occur in countries where human rights standards and the rule of law are poor, and/or where there is a challenging bilateral relationship. We believe not making substantive concessions is an important part of discouraging and deterring the practice of detaining foreign nationals for diplomatic leverage. HMG has maintained a consistent policy of not entering into prisoner exchanges involving British nationals detained overseas, for example, and has a well-known and long-standing policy of no concessions in terrorist kidnaps which we believe has ultimately worked to protect British nationals from hostage-taking.
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